Budget Cuts Crowd Canadian Prisons

OTTAWA — More than a quarter of all federal prisoners will soon be forced to share their cells as the Canadian government tries to put handcuffs on government spending.

Correctional Service Canada will also consider contracting out some services to try to chop $14.8 million from its 1986-87 spending plans at a time when the public is demanding tougher sentences for violent offenders.

"I guess you might say we're caught between the devil and the deep blue sea," said Mike Provan, director of operational planning for the country's 62 prisons.

Despite a sudden and dramatic increase in the prison population, federal spending estimates tabled in the Commons last week indicate corrections will have $760.7 million for the year beginning April 1--a 1.9% drop from fiscal 1985-86.